September 2014 Council Meeting
- Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian Sept 2014
At the September meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer what plans are in place to resurface the roadways at the rear of the houses in Breffni Crescent, Carrick on Shannon.
REPLY FROM LCC. “This road is included in our Community Involvement Scheme programme for this year. Once the local contribution is paid works will commence on this road.”
Councillor Sinead Guckian speaking on the debate of the motion asked the Area Engineer to again meet with residents as she outlined to the meeting that since 2005 various commitments had been made that this road would be repaired. She outlined that as recently as February this year the Council had agreed to carry out the required work and not all families in the area were in a position to provide their contribution to the Community Involvement Scheme proposed. She advised that this road was an exemption, given the history of commitments and the fact that it was located in a Council estate. She welcomed the agreed of the Engineer to meet again and discuss with residents.
- Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian Sept 2014
At the September meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to address the dangerous slippery condition of the footpaths in Kiltoghert Graveyard and to carry out additional works to alleviate drainage in the graveyard too.
REPLY FROM LCC. “Leitrim County Council has advised the cemetery committee that funding can be provided to them to carry out any improvements required at the cemetery. We will make contact with them again to discuss improvement works at this cemetery.
Councillor Sinead Guckian welcome this action.
Bi-monthly Meeting of Leitrim County Council – Sept Meeting.
Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian 1st Sept 2014
At the September meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Environment, Emergency & Cultural Services what waiver options can be considered in conjunction with the new pay by weight waste collection service to reduce costs for families who have waste collection needs because of medical conditions and who, under the new system, will see their charges increased considerably because the charges are based on weight. Given National Governments’ policy of rolling out “pay by weight” waste collection services throughout the country, there must be a mechanism to reduce costs for persons who have additional waste to be collected due to medical conditions or needs.
REPLY FROM LCC: Waste collection is privatised in County Leitrim and in practically all Counties at this stage. The pricing structure in privatised waste collection services is determined by factors such as economic cost and competition. Any waiver system would have to be funded by a local authority and this local authority would not be in a position to fund any such waiver scheme. Neither is there any likelihood of State funding for same. No waiver system exists for the current service. It has been clearly demonstrated by presentations at recent Council meetings that the pay-by-weight system as on offer from the Collection Companies serving County Leitrim will result in reduced refuse collection charges for the households of the County. From discussions with the refuse collection firms it is anticipated that they will be prepared to make special provision, in a confidential manner, for circumstances where medical conditions as alluded to in the Notice of Motion are brought directly to their attention and where they can be verified.
RESPONSE : Councillor Sinead Guckian outlined once again the many difficulties that there are with the new policy of pay-by-weight. She advised that she still believed that the currently quarterly charge, is in fact the registration fee under another name, a fee which she spent many meetings ensuring would not be put on service users. She outlined that the by law adopted specifically said there would be no registration fee. She outlined the background to this particular motion and highlighted the example of service users who, due to medical conditions required incontinence wear and the obvious increase in waste costs due to weight of same. She welcomed the sympathetic response from the private contractors but outlined that the system needed to be more straightforward, with a clear mechanism for collection of such items it was not fair to be relying on the goodwill of private contractors. She called on the Minister to provide a waiver system, based on medical grounds and requested that it would be put in place without further delay.
Cllr Sinead Guckian received full support of all members. – 01/09/2014
Monthly Meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District Meeting – 21st July
- Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian July 2014
At the July meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to investigate the junction at the Bridge in Leitrim Village with Church Road, with a view to improving visibility for vehicles for exiting church road.”
- Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian July 2014
At the July meeting of Carrick on Shannon Municipal District I will ask the Director of Services, Community, Cultural & Enterprise Development, what is the up to date position with the provision and erection of “advanced signage” for the town of Carrick on Shannon, to highlight the many attractions within the town centre. I requested the provision for same in the 2014 Council Budget and my request was agreed by all.”
Bi-monthly Meeting of Leitrim County Council – July Meeting.
Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian July 2014
At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask for the support of the Members in calling on the Minister for Health to immediately review the qualifying criteria for the over 70‟s medical card as it is grossly unfair. Currently over 70‟s medical card applicants are assessed on their gross income, with no allowance or deductions of reasonable living expenses. Even payments towards their care or medical requirements are not considered when assessing their eligibility. When applicants savings are assessed, the interest rate on their savings is included as part of their calculated income, it would be much fairer if it was calculated at the actual reduced amount they receive, after DIRT tax is deducted.
Councillor Sinead Guckian outlined the background to her motion and stated that people feel that the current situation is not logical or acceptable. She requested immediate action be taken by the Minister. She stated that she is calling for the qualification criteria in relation to the over 70‟s
medical card to be looked at specifically, she gave a number of examples of appeals that were currently logged with the Dept and she requested the Minister to provide for a more Fair Deal for over 70’s. .
All Members supported the Motion.
Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian 14/349 .07/07/14. RE 100th Anniversary of Cumann na mBan.
At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Director of Services, Infrastructure if the Council has progressed with identifying a road or building or bridge or park etc. within the County, that could be renamed, to mark the occasion of the 100th Anniversary year of Cumann na mBan. My proposal at the February meeting of the Council was seconded and agreed by all Members, to mark this important anniversary.
REPLY FROM LCC: Report by Senior Engineer, Roads
“The matter will be discussed at the Corporate Policy Group.”
Cllr Sinead Guckian requested that this item would be progressed as soon as possible as it was now half way through the centenary year.
Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian 14/350. 07/07/14 RE: Fluoridation of Water Supplies
At the July meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the Chief Executive to clarify the position with regard to the Council adding fluoride to water. Last year this Council was advised that fluoridation of drinking water was mandatory by law since 1963 and that Leitrim County Council didn‟t have the option to cease this practice. However is it not correct that there is no express instruction in either the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 or the subsequent Statutory Instrument(42/2007 Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007)that fluoride is to be added to water. There is only an option that it may be added if the Council so choose. Hence the Council can also choose not to. There also seems to be no penalties in either document for non compliance and therefore there can be no subsequent penalties via the Local Government Act Section 216(e) for failure to enforce an Act.”
REPLY FROM LCC : Report by Senior Engineer, Roads
“The Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 or the subsequent Statutory
Instrument(42/2007 Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007)does not, in our opinion, give
the Sanitary Authority any option but to comply with regulations made by the Health Authority with
regard to fluoridation of water supplies. It uses terms such as “shall” and “will”.
From the 1st January this year Irish Water is the Sanitary Authority with regard to public water
supplies.”
Cllr Sinead Guckian expressed her surprise that members were now being informed that the Council had no role in the matter and that Irish Water had now gained responsibility for what is added to the water as well as full control over the water infrastructure within the county, both current and future infrastructure.
Bi-monthly Meeting of Leitrim County Council – May Meeting.
Notice of Motion in the Name of Cllr Sinead Guckian May 2014
-At the May meeting of Leitrim County Council, I will ask for the support of members in calling on the Minister for Health, to immediately set up the new schemes, that were promised, to replace the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance scheme, both of the previous schemes were closed in February 2013. When the schemes were closed a commitment was given by Government that a new scheme would be introduced without delay, however, to date no new applications have been accepted and many people have been left with no mobility support and no information as to when the replacement schemes will be introduced.
RESPONSE : Cllr Sinead Guckian “ I am delighted to receive the support of all the members on my motion, I would ask that we contact the Ministers Office immediately and request that this outstanding issue be addressed without any further delays. “
Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian :Question No. 36
At the May meeting of Leitrim County Council I will ask the South Leitrim Area Engineer to erect a “Children at Play” sign in Jamestown, on the factory road, from the bridge towards Rue. There are 18 small children living along this route and there is a considerable amount of commercial traffic. I would ask that the sign be erected in conjunction with the resurfacing works to be completed on the road, following the installation of the group sewerage scheme.
REPLY FROM LCC:Road safety signage will be assessed at this location in light of the request.
Councillor Sinead Guckian – welcomed the reply and requested that work would be carried out as soon as possible. 12/05/2014 (Council Meeting)
Question in the name of Cllr Sinead Guckian : Question No. 37
At the May meeting of Leitrim County council I ask the Director of Services, Housing and Corporate Services to include the Council houses in Drumsna under the current National Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme. Every local Authority house should have, at a minimum, draught proofing, attic insulation and cavity wall insulation or dry lining.
REPLY FROM LCC: Leitrim County Council has 6 housing units in Drumsna and Energy Efficiency upgrades have already been completed on 2 of these units. The remaining 4 No. units are included in the overall Fabric Upgrade Programme 2014-2015.
Councillor Sinead Guckian welcomed the proposed work- 12/05/2014 (Council Meeting)